Advice for staff during extreme heat

There is a red severe weather warning for extreme heat in East Sussex.

A Heat-health alert has been issued, covering the whole of the South East. This is valid between 1am on Wednesday 24 June to 11pm on Thursday 25 June.

Here are some practical steps you can take to keep people well during this time.

Actions for home care staff

1. Assess risk on every visit

  • Check temperature of the home
  • Look at ventilation, hydration and supplies
  • Identify if the client is at higher risk

2. Support clients to keep their home cool

Advise them to:

  • close curtains during the day
  • open windows at night

Address any unsafe behaviours, such as having the heating on in hot weather.

3. Prioritise hydration at every visit

  • Encourage regular drinking.
  • Check access to drinks and food.
  • Monitor for signs of dehydration.

4. Increase monitoring and contact

  • Check high-risk individuals more frequently.
  • Ensure family or neighbour check-ins are in place.

5. Share advice and escalate concerns

  • Provide simple “stay cool” advice at each visit.
  • Escalate early if signs of heat illness appear.
  • Report any concerns about living conditions (e.g. overheating homes) to your manager straightaway.

 Actions for care home staff

1. Keep indoor environments cool

  • Close curtains and blinds during the day and open windows at night.
  • Monitor room temperatures regularly.
  • Identify and use the coolest rooms.

 Heat can build quickly indoors and increase health risks 

2. Increase hydration and monitor intake

  • Offer regular drinks (don’t rely on thirst).
  • Record fluid intake for high-risk residents.
  • Use alternatives, such as fruit and ice lollies.

Dehydration is a key risk in hot weather.

3. Adapt care routines and activities

  • Avoid activity during 11am to 3pm.
  • Switch to lighter meals and indoor activities.
  • Reduce crowding in shared spaces.

4. Monitor residents closely for early signs of illness

  • Look out for confusion, dizziness, fatigue and reduced fluid intake.
  • Act quickly to cool and hydrate.

Heat exhaustion can escalate rapidly.

5. Plan ahead and follow Heat-Health alerts

  • Ensure staff know heatwave plans and escalation routes.
  • Adjust staffing if needed.

Use Heat-health alerts as a trigger for action.